Jordan Valley students took
the stage to present 10 musical numbers in their Disney Spring Showcase.

“This gives students a chance
to be smiling on stage, having a sense of accomplishment and independence,”
school music therapist Sarah Mortensen said. “Performing on stage allows them
to have a similar experience as their peers.”

Jordan
Valley students have severe multiple disabilities including autism, cerebral
palsy, traumatic brain injury, seizure disorders, communication impairments,
genetic disorders and syndromes, deaf–blindness and some who are extremely
medically fragile. The goal at Jordan Valley School is to improve the quality
of life for students, age 5 to 22, and their families.

One
way staff and faculty do this is to include all 120 students in a spring performance, with each class showcasing a
different song. Faculty and staff supported students, pushing them in
wheelchairs or having iPads help them with their lines.

The showcase replaced their
annual musical as Mortensen was hired shortly before the April 19–20 event.

“It was important that these
students could still have a spring performance, so we divided it by classrooms
with some teachers planning their own choreography and props and others, I
coordinated.The art therapist created backdrops, the speech,
physical and occupational therapists, nurses, aides, office staff, achievement
coach — everyone — helped out. It
was a total school effort,” she said.

Mortensen said the theme was
selected because many students watch Disney films and are familiar with the
songs. The songs they performed include “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” “Circle of Life,”
“Whistle While You Work,” “The Unbirthday Song,” “Life is a Highway,” “Hakuna
Matata,” “I’ve Got a Dream” and “I Love to Laugh.”

“We practiced the songs with
movement beforehand, but once they took the stage, it’s a lot of sensory for
them with stage lights, music and even the audience. We want it to be a
positive experience that will help build their self-esteem,” she said.

Throughout the year, students
attend music class twice each week for about 30 minutes each session. Mortensen
opens the class with the same welcome and ends with a familiar goodbye song,
involving students to strum her guitar or tap on a drum.

In another part of the class,
she may distribute instruments, from shakers to drums, allowing students to
play along. She may change the rhythm of
the songs, playing from a slow beat and increasing to a faster beat so students
learn to keep the beat. They also are encouraged to dance or move to the beat.

“The students are learning to
communicate through music from making a choice of what instrument they want to
play to following directions of how to behave in class, respect their
instruments and participate in class,” Mortensen said.

She said that even through
choosing instruments, the students demonstrate communication.

“They are able to show their
preference of self-expression,” Mortensen said.

Students also gain skills in
both gross and fine motor skills as well as interact with others during their
ensemble pieces.

“We integrate classroom
curriculum so we could work on shapes, colors and counting to reinforce what is
going on in their classes. Through music, we often reach kids through a
different medium,” she said.

The culminating activity is
the spring performance where students move, play and perform.

“It’s their moment to shine.
When we see one little thing, it’s an improvement and it’s worthwhile,” she
said.